What is your favorite faucet?

[jeffjudd]

I never claimed to be more then a homeowner attempting to repair a faucet for the first time. Just because you’re an expert doesn’t mean my experience will not be of benefit to someone. Delta has done nothing to make me believe Delta faucets are better. For a plumber repairing faucets, perhaps yes. They have a handful of parts (spring, spring seat, stem assembly) to do most repairs. These are used in most faucets. They are simple to install once you have done it a few times. I spoke to 3 different plumbers over the weekend, they all thought delta was the best. I’m just giving my experience with delta.

My house was built late 2002, its less then 5 yrs old. I have a separate shower and bath. This faucet was the least used in the house. It’s a whirlpool tub, and the most attractive faucet in the house. There is no good reason for this faucet to be leaking. The leak was substantial and I had to cut the water off Saturday night and Sunday only turn it on intermittently.

I visited delta’s website and their diagram was small and poor quality. I could not see how to properly orient the springs and spring seats. This does matter and is important. They did not provide a description of the installation.

I called delta Monday morning while I waited for the plumber to arrive. I tried one last time to fix the leak with the seats and springs I had purchased. She offered to send me a replacement stem assembly for $17.50 + shipping and handling. It would arrive in 3 days. Considering my faucet wasn’t 5 years old yet, I didn’t consider this generous. I bought the house 8 months ago, so perhaps that was the reason being a 2nd owner I would have to pay for repair parts. She told me the correct way to install the spring and spring seat. However she told me I needed an additional piece to go in the half moon of the stem assembly. She gave me a p/n for this. I did not need this part and it did not come with my faucet. She was wrong and the plumber proved that. I was not impressed by the customer support. I sent 3 emails to delta over the weekend, and they never replied. They did answer my call Monday morning.

The plumber seated the spring and seal as I did. The faucet still leaked. He then replaced the stem assembly and the leak stopped. I had attempted to replace the stem assembly but the parts were not available. Only a plumbing supply house carried it. I brought the stem assembly to home depot and ace hardware they didn’t carry the part. I don’t think delta repair parts are easier to get. Maybe for a plumber who doesn’t need to carry many parts to repair delta faucets there is an advantage with delta.


That doesn’t change the fact that 1) most faucets last longer then 5 yrs 2) delta didn’t offer to reimburse me for the repair parts as they state they will in their guaranty 3) the parts (stem assembly) are not carried at any hardware stores in my area and are not easier to find then other brands 4) delta doesn’t provide information with the repair parts to install them. A simple diagram or descriptive sentence with the springs and seats I bought would have been sufficient.

Which goes in first the spring or the spring seat? One spring end is narrower then the other, which end goes in first? Its shaped like a cup it makes a difference. Those are 2 basic questions that anyone installing them for the first time needs to know. It could damage the seat or the stem assembly if they are not installed correctly. Delta didn’t provide info with the repair parts or on their website.

Here is my experience. You will need to go to a plumbing supply house to find the delta parts you need to make a repair. Delta is not going to provide any instructions with the repair parts to install them. You will need to either talk to them on the phone, or be very careful when you remove the seat and springs to remember how to install them correctly later. Delta won’t reimburse the cost of the parts unless you can show you are the original purchaser.

I don’t see how delta faucets are then better then other faucets. You can find replacement parts for most faucets at a plumbing supply house. Most faucet companies are going to provide repair parts and instructions. You pay for repair parts unless you are the original owner. Most faucets will last 5 years without repairs. So why are delta faucets considered better?

[Racer814]

sorry about your bad experience with repairing your faucet..fact of the matter is that nothing lasts as long as it should and even the better companies are using cheaper parts that are manufactured overseas...you can take that one up with your congressman....any manufacturer can have a defect even a normally good one like Delta..it's been my experience that Delta's customer support is no better or worse than any other manufacturer......but I have found them to produce a good product
most of the time

and I can't speak for anyone else but I don't base my preference of a brand on how few parts I have to stock on my van....in fact when I built my first home 18 years ago my supplier gave me all my fixtures for free..and I chose to install Delta

[billonion]

I've installed a few Delta faucets and shower valves. They rarely leak and are very easy to fix. My current home has Delta faucets and Moen shower valves (my old house had all Delta faucets and valves). The Moens are OK, but I still like the Delta better. Currently having a problem tightening inlet fittings on Moen shower valve to stop leaking - major PIA.
Billw

[nbahm]

What about Danze? I have a whole house full of Danze fixtures with no problems...yet. (knock, knock....ouch ) They seem to be well built (all brass, no plastic, ceramic valves, etc.) Just curious why they were left off the list.

[cbl]

I like the Moens when they come from a real plumbing supplier. HD sells the same kit I like to use, but their version (same part numbers) is mostly plastic.

[Dunbar Plumbing]

Moen has me on a callback wait... 1.5 hours.


I'm thinking 3 people covering 57 states... whaddya think?

[Redwood]

I dunno Rugged...
The longest wait I ever had was a we'll call you back in 10 minutes and they did. Maybe Mondays are worse... I'm off on Mondays...

Did you notice I've dicided to run for our nations highest office?

[Kenneigh]

Water just drips, can't turn it off. Unit's about 7 years old.


------ Just A Note -----


Old-timers like me recall the days before washerless faucets, when about all it took to stop drips/leaks was the correct washer and a tool.

Once the washerless era began, we sensed -- correctly -- that like the newer, "water-saving" tiny toilets, the plumbers' lobbies had got us (the public) again!

a.) If our older, better toilets needed to be replaced, we HAD to buy the "new" many-flushes-needed toilets.

b.) There'd be no more faucet repairs without "help" from a $75/hour
plumber, who might be as honest as your neighborhood lawyer and as competent as Stan Laurel.

Many folks make jokes about plumbers, but when I encounter a plumber's outrageous bills, I boil. These things are not funny!

[SewerRatz]

Water just drips, can't turn it off. Unit's about 7 years old.


------ Just A Note -----


Old-timers like me recall the days before washerless faucets, when about all it took to stop drips/leaks was the correct washer and a tool.

Once the washerless era began, we sensed -- correctly -- that like the newer, "water-saving" tiny toilets, the plumbers' lobbies had got us (the public) again!

a.) If our older, better toilets needed to be replaced, we HAD to buy the "new" many-flushes-needed toilets.

b.) There'd be no more faucet repairs without "help" from a $75/hour
plumber, who might be as honest as your neighborhood lawyer and as competent as Stan Laurel.

Many folks make jokes about plumbers, but when I encounter a plumber's outrageous bills, I boil. These things are not funny!

Bet you can hear the plumber laughing all the way to the bank.

To answer your question yes a non-plumber can repair a single handle Delta.

In all reality I do not think the plumbers wanted these washerless faucets either. I have a large P&M kit on my truck that only gets used now if someone with a home that was built before 1980 and still has original plumbing. Its a $3000.00 kit back in the day paid for itself, but in todays market its just a waste of space. People want the latest and greatest out there, even if it all plastic junk.

As for the water closets, when the government set the date 90% of the water closet manufactures where not ready. They just made the trap ways smaller to handle the flush thinking all will be good. Boy they found out fast they where wrong. Back then the only water closet that was a damn was the Sterling water closet which was making 1.6 GPF water closets a few years before it was mandatory. Then Kohler got wise and enlarged the trap way on the Welsworth and glazed the trap, It worked like a charm. First time I Installed the new Welsworth I had to double check to see if it stamped for commercial use only, the flush reminded me of the 3.5 GPF water closets. (back then we where allowed to sell 3.5 GPF water closets for commercial use.)

[master plumber mark]

[quote=SewerRatz;196391]Bet you can hear the plumber laughing all the way to the bank.

To answer your question yes a non-plumber can repair a single handle Delta.

In all reality I do not think the plumbers wanted these washerless faucets either. I have a large P&M kit on my truck that only gets used now if someone with a home that was built before 1980 and still has original plumbing. Its a $3000.00 kit back in the day paid for itself, but in todays market its just a waste of space.


I remember when I was a kid and having to repair sayco and gerber faucets... and all sorts of other odd ball faucets made back in the 50s.......

I remember takeing out the scarred up brass seats and ......as a last resort, sanding them down till they were good enough to work properly....

now those were the fun, fun..days......


have a CREED faucet repair set up with all sorts of seats and washers, I have the cone washers in my truck...
(got them from a bankrupt plumber for nothing).

I probably not have opened any of the boxes in 5years or more... and they are also takeing up space....

its all washerless and throw away faucets now....

also , ....... to set the record straight......

anyone who cant repair a Delta faucet is a total moron.. and should not attempt any
kind of plumbing what-so-ever.


they are too simple and too easy .......


.

[nhmaster]

How come glacier bay wasn't on the list

Since I found theis adjustment tool, my opinion of Moen has changed a bit.

[Dunbar Plumbing]

I worked on a Kohler Valvet this week...


Of course, it lived to its name. It leaked after a full rebuild.

[kingsotall]

Can we get the HD Pegusus listed per AFK¿

the shower valve and faucet is made by home depot's brand, pegasus, and yes, i know it's the highest quality brand.

[AFK]

my vote is for pegasus

[Cookie]

Anyone which works and doesn't cost me money.